A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The criminal justice system describes the processes that an individual has to pass through when he/she commits a crime and the law enforcement proves that a crime did occur. The process is lengthy in most instances and various factors come into play influencing the initial treatment of a suspect, how the arrest takes place, the sentencing if found culpable or even the release of the suspect. Everyone is treated equally and fairly under the criminal justice system though there are a few disparities. This paper focuses on the journey of Clyde Edwards through the criminal justice system.
The police receive a 911 call from Shirley DePew after a burglary has occurred at her residence. They arrive at the residence and commence a criminal investigation. They carry out an exploratory assessment of the property. The police established that there was an unlawful entry into the home indicated by the broken window glass and the ransacked house. Shirley DePew describes the suspect as a white male in his twenties to the police. Based on a reasonable belief, the criminality evidence on the crime scene, the circumstances and the description of the suspect, the police establish a probable cause for arrest. The charge is based on burglary and they identify Clyde Edwards as the possible suspect. A reasonable connection is created between Clyde Edwards and this specific crime. He is arrested and taken into police custody. After the arrest, the police read his Miranda Rights to enable them to begin questioning. He is booked, taken to a local jail and charged with burglary. The charge is treated as a felony (Criminal Law, 2013-2016).
Clyde Edwards is arraigned in a court making his first appearance before a judge in a criminal court regarding this charge. He is now officially regarded as the defendant. The criminal charges are explained to the defendant by the judge, his rights to be represented by an attorney and if he is convicted the maximum penalty for his crimes. If Clay Edwards cannot afford the services of an attorney then a state attorney will be assigned to him since he has a right to counsel. The defendant has to enter a plea of either "guilty" or "not guilty" during the arraignment. If a plea of "guilty" is entered, the judge sets a later date for the hearing. If the plea is "not guilty", then the judge sets a date when the preliminary hearings will take place. Clay Edwards pleaded "not guilty" thus the case will have to move to the preliminary hearing (Criminal Law, 2013-2016).
During the preliminary hearing, the prosecutor is tasked with the responsibility of convincing the judge that there is satisfactory evidence to show that Edwards did commit a crime. The witness (Shirley DePew and a neighbor), physical and digital evidence in the form of pictures of broken glasses and destroyed property are presented (page 294). The judge decides that the evidence against the defendant is substantially enough to proceed to trial court. Pretrial motions for the case are carried out so as to determine the evidence to be presented during the case. The prosecution seeks to have the testimony by Lindie Greene (Edwards on and off girlfriend) disallowed since figure print evidence proves that indeed he was at the residence. The defense attorney seeks the exclusion of the testimony of the arresting officer arguing that during the arrest the defendant was not made aware of his Miranda rights. The pretrial motions are set and the trial is set to begin (Criminal justice: the process of criminal justice, 2016).
The trial is convened before a jury and a judge. The jury is selected carefully through "Voir dire" and the impartiality as well as the fitness of each juror is determined. Both the attorneys agree on the members selected for the jury. The opening statements are made by the prosecution but the defense chooses to defer its opening statements for the case. The prosecution is tasked with the "burden of proof". It has to show that there was an unauthorized entry into the residence, the defendant had the intentions at that time and he committed a felony. The Key evidence, as well as, the witness testimonies are presented to the jury and the court (Criminal Law, 2013-2016). Both the defense and the prosecution are given time to argue their case. They both make their closing statements and the judge gives instructions to the jury through legal explanations pertaining to the case. The jury goes into seclusion and reaches a unanimous decision finding Edwards "guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" (page 307).
The defendant (Edwards) is convicted of a second-degree burglary and the court is informed of the decision by the jury. The defendant's history of criminal records makes things more complicated. The judge sentences him to prison for five years in prison with that option of parole (page 350). He is sent to a state correctional prison institution to serve his sentence. Once in prison, Edwards is of good behavior and undergoes counseling. He accumulates good time credits while serving his jail sentence and at the end of the fourth year, he is offered parole by the parole board. He is required to always report to his supervision officer after release, abide by the law and stay within the geographical limits (Criminal Law, 2013-2016). Clyde Edwards is released from the prison a better and changed man. He is still a young and energetic man with the ability of determining the path that his life takes for the better.
Now please answer my questios:
1) How is your paper going?
2) Did you include at least 6 steps in the CJ system, 2 from each component?
3) As a result of what you've learned in the class, would a career in CJ be a good fit for you?